Shelley Renée Huff, daughter of Gaylen L. and Barbara A. (Krotz) Huff was born at Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, South Carolina, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1974.
The family, which also consisted of her brother, Jason, moved to Lincoln in June 1975. In 1977, they relocated to Ames, Iowa, when her father entered veterinary school. She began her education in Ames at Crawford Elementary School in 1979. In 1981, the family moved to Geneva, where Shelley completed second and third grade. In 1983, Shelley began to develop “roots” when her family relocated to Friend, where she graduated from high school in 1992.
Shelley excelled academically and graduated valedictorian of her class. She was a member of National Honor Society, and was a gifted athlete. Her basketball team qualified for the state tournament three years in a row. While living in Friend, her younger brother, Clinton, joined the family.
After high school, Shelley attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she began to develop her friendship “roots.” Shelley made friends at UNL that she continued to carry with her until her passing. Shelley graduated from UNL with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in mathematics in 1997 and was accepted into optometry school in 1998. She made many more lifelong friendships while at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, Illinois.
Upon completion of her education at ICO in 2002, she accepted a disease-specific ocular residency at the Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, Lousiana. While there, Shelley developed her strongest “roots“ that would ultimately help carry her through the remaining years of her life.
Following her residency, she gained employment at a not-for-profit health clinic in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans, where she provided care to the underserved. She loved this job. It spoke to who she was and what she wanted to give back to the community, which she had learned to love so dearly. Things were going well until Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Because of the devastation from the hurricane, Shelley had to find a new path for her life. She and her Golden Retriever, Jackson, temporarily moved to Nebraska. She relocated to Colorado, where she resided and worked in her chosen field of optometry between the years of 2005 and 2009. While in Colorado, she initially lived with a close friend that she had met in New Orleans. Later, she shared an apartment with her brother, Clinton.
Shelley always knew that her heart was in New Orleans. In October 2009, she packed a PODS shipping container and moved back to the city she loved. She had accepted a job at Ochsner Health System to work closely with ophthalmologists caring for patients with diseases of the eye. Over the next 17 years while in New Orleans, Shelley was able to solidify her “roots.” Her Golden Retriever, Jackson, passed in 2019. Her current Golden Retriever, Maggie, was born that year. She purchased a home in the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans.
She was accepted into the Krewe of Iris, the oldest and largest all-female Krewe in New Orleans. The Krewe of Iris Mardi Gras parade is the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. Shelley participated in at least three parades during her time with Iris.
Physical fitness was an important part of her life. She regularly attended Orange Theory as well as other workout classes. She loved to walk Audubon Park, which was only a few blocks from her home. She ran a half marathon and hiked Pikes Peak in Colorado. After losing one of her closest friends to a rare cancer in 2012, she participated annually in Cycle for Survival, a stationary cycling fundraiser for cancer research held in Chicago.
Shelley loved her family and made it a priority to spend time with her nieces and nephew. had friends everywhere, and made friends wherever she went. She has traveled all over the United States and to more than 15 countries internationally. She could be called a sophisticated “foodie.” A best friend once described her as a “let’s do it” friend. That was Shelley. She was always up for an adventure and willing to try anything.
The Sunday evening of Sept. 27, 2026, at the age of 52 years and 24 days, Shelley suffered a fatal neurological event that left her in an irreversible coma. Shelley was registered as an organ donor in the event of her passing. On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at 4:40 p.m. her heart stopped. At 5:02 p.m., her heart was on its way to save someone’s life.
Shelley was a healer, a listener and a giver. She was a dedicated, loyal, and selfless individual. Her last act as an organ donor was her most selfless. Although our hearts are broken, we know that she is at peace. We will miss her forever, but we find comfort knowing this is all part of God’s plan.
Shelley was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Willard and Iola (Lammers) Krotz; paternal grandparents, Loren Joe and Lyda Ruth (Walters) Huff; uncle, Randy Krotz; and faithful canine companion, Jackson.
She is survived by her parents, Gaylen and Barbara Huff of Friend; brothers, Jason and wife, Cindy Huff of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Clinton Huff of Omaha; nieces, Emma of Greensboro, North Carolina and Rosalia of Omaha; nephew, Jose of Omaha, Nebraska; and faithful canine companion, Maggie of New Orleans.
A memorial service for Shelley will be Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Friend with Pastor Cameron Miller presiding. Shirley Milton will accompany the congregation in the singing of “On Eagle’s Wings,” “Victory In Jesus,” and “Hymn Of Promise.” The recorded selection, “You Should Be Here” will also be played. There will be a private committal of ashes at a later date. A meal and time of fellowship will be at the San Carlo Room following the memorial service. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family for future designation.
Arrangements by Farmer & Son Funeral Home.
